THE MARINER'S DREAM In slumbers of midnight the sailor-boy lay; His hammock swung loose at the sport of the wind; But watch-worn and weary, his cares flew away And visions of happiness danced o'er his mind. He dreamed of his home and dear native bowers Then fancy her magical pinions spread wide, The jessamine clambers in flower o'er the thatch, A father bends o'er him with looks of delight, With the lips of the maid whom his bosom holds dear. The heart of the sleeper beats high in his breast; Ah! whence is that flame that now glares on his eye? Ah! what is that sound that bursts on his ear? 'Tis the lightning's gleam painting hell on the sky, 'Tis the crashing of thunder, the groan of the sphere. He springs from his hammock, he flees to the deck; Amazement confronts him with images dire, Wild winds and mad waves drive the vessel, a wreck; The masts fly in splinters, the shrouds are on fire. Like mountains the billows tremendously swell, And the death-angel flaps his broad wing o'er the wave. O sailor-boy! woe to thy dream of delight, In darkness dissolves the gay frostwork of bliss; Where now is the picture that fancy touched bright, Thy parents' fond pressure, thy love's honeyed kiss? O sailor-boy! sailor-boy! never again Shall love, home or kindred thy wishes repay; No tomb shall e'er plead in remembrance for thee, On a bed of green sea-flowers thy limbs shall be laid, Of thy fair yellow locks threads of amber be made, Days, months, years and ages shall circle away, W. Dimond. AN ANTHEM A sailor who had been to a church service where he heard some fine music was afterward descanting upon an anthem which had given him great pleasure. A listening shipmate finally asked: "I say, Bill, what's a hanthem?" "What!" exclaimed Bill, "do you mean to say you don't know what a hanthem is?" "Not me." "Well, then, I'll tell yer. If I was to tell yer, "Ere, Bill, give me that 'andspike,' that wouldn't be a hanthem. But if I was to say: 'Bill, Bill, Bill, give, give, give, give me, give me that, Bill, give me, give me that 'and, give me that 'andspike, spike, Bill, give me that, that 'and, 'andspike, 'and, 'andspike, spike, spike, spike, Ahmen, Ahmen, Bill, give me that 'andspike, spike, Ahmen,' why, that would be a hanthem." Selected. THE ROCKY HILL Oh, Jack and Jill went up the hill. They had with them a pail to fill With water from the bubbling rill that from the top was flowing. The way was steep and hard and rough, the little feet were far from tough, But Jack was stout and bold enough and set his heart. on going. You may remember how they fared, that little couple sweetly paired; What he would do she gladly dared. No tale is this for laughter. For Jack, the heedless, tumbled down and cracked his little curly crown, And Jill she tripped upon her gown and went atumbling after. I do not think they ever tell that Jill was grieved because they fell, And kissed the place to make it well and hurried off for plaster; But never doubt the little maid no end of sympathy displayed And did her very best to aid the victim of disaster. I have a rocky hill to climb and I may reach the top in time; My little Jill has faith sublime and she has not denied me: So what care I for broken crowns or fortune's smiles or fortune's frowns, If I can have my ups and downs with little Jill beside me? Kenneth Harris. FAITH If I could feel my hand, dear Lord, in Thine And surely know That I was walking in the light divine Through weal or woe; If I could hear Thy voice in accents sweet To guide my trembling, groping, wandering feet, I would so gladly walk therein, but now I cannot see. Oh, give me, Lord, the faith to humbly bow There is no faith in seeing. Were we led Like children here, And lifted over rock and river-bed, No care, no fear, We should be useless in the busy throng, Life's work undone; Lord, make us brave and earnest, true and strong, Till heaven is won. By permission. Sarah K. Bolton. |